The Transition Of Gentry Of Jiangnan Area In The Late Qing Dynasty And The Early Republic Of China

This paper uses Jin Songcen and Liu Yazi these two middle and lower gentry as observe objects, and analyzes their arguments and practices during the late Qing dynasty and the early republic of China, and then reveal their construction of local power and influence and its transition. As gentry in a drastically changeable generation, Jin’s and Liu’s pursuits of their own future represent the transition of gentry group in the Jiangnan area and actually broaden our comprehension of them.The paper consists of five parts. In the first part, it portrays the geographic features of modern Wujiang, and its traffic with Suzhou and Shanghai. This part also puts particular emphasis on the local influence and social intercourse of Jin’s and Liu’s families which constitute a very key part of their whole life. The second part describes Jin’s and Liu’s pursuits of their own future among the atmosphere of revolution. At first, both of them admired these revolutionary ideas; however, they chose separate ways. Liu Yazi went to Shanghai join Nanshe, while Jin Songcen stayed for local education and retreated from "the center of revolution". Then the third and fourth parts respectively throw the lights to their construction of local power and influence and its transition. Jin Songcen was forced to move to Suzhou. He continued his studies and made contacts with many literary intellectuals. Through these activities, Jin enjoyed so great reputation that finally he stepped into public service. Liu Yazi took advantage of Nanshe to expand his social circle. When he was frustrated in Shanghai and returned to Wujiang, he still had an influence in his hometown. In the last part, we try to make a comparison and put forward a point of view on the two gentry’s ways of transition.Though there are many similarities between Jin and Liu, the significant differences made they go to two ways of life and show different changes in thinking. Jin Songcen relied heavily on running local education and then climbed into politics. He shifted from radical thoughts to conservative thoughts and formed more rational thinking on local education and water conservancy. Liu Yazi stayed in Shanghai and at last became the leader of Nanshe, earning his fame among intellects. Then he returned to Wujiang to advocate new ideals. Compared with Jin, Liu always kept in touch with new trend and tended to bring into personal feelings.